Combined voltage regulator and self-closing circuit breaker



COMBINED VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND SELF-CLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER OriginalFiled March 25. 1947 i atentecl Aug. 4, 1953 COMBINED VOLTAGE REGULAroRAN SELF-CLOSING omourr BREAKER Pierre Cibi, Paris, France Originalapplication March 25, 1947, Serial No. 737,165. Divided and thisapplication July 27,

1950, Serial No. 1939 183,561. In France March 29,

Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 29, 1959Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus combining the functions of voltageregulator and of selfclosing circuit-breaker. It has for its object animproved apparatus of this kind, functioning at the same timesatisfactorily as a voltage regulator and as a self-closingcircuit-breaker.

According to my invention, I provide a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuitbreaker, characterised in that the magnetic circuitsof the circuit-breaker and of the voltage regulator, respectively, havea common member in which the fluxes of the respective circuits are inopposite directions, the armature of the selfclosing circuit-breaker andthe said common member constituting parallel paths for the fluxgenerated by the series winding of the voltage regulator, controllingthe operation of the makeand-break component of the apparatus. Theneutralising winding can then be wound with a number of turns muchgreater than is permissible when the windings of both the voltageregulator and the self-closing circuit breaker are on the same singlemagnetic circuit, so that a much weaker current operates the breaking ofthe circuit.

Referring to the drawings left herewith:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the connections;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a known arrangement of voltageregulator combined with a self-closing circuit-breaker;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the combined voltageregulator and selfclosing circuit-breaker according to the invention.

Apparatus combining the function of a voltage regulator and of aself-closing circuit-breaker are known, of the type represented in Fig.2 of the appended drawing and the working of which takes place accordingto the diagram of the Fig. 1 of the same drawing.

In a combined apparatus of this type, a winding 6 creates amagneto-motive force proportional to the voltage of the generator a.When the speed of the generator starts from zero and increases, thevoltage of the generator grows; when this voltage reaches a definitepredetermined value, for example 6 volts, the armature p is attractedand closes the distribution circuit of the generator at the contacts bb. If the voltage continues to grow, the armature p is attracted and thefield winding i is put in circuit at the contacts dd and the voltage isregulated according to a known procedure. If the speed of the generatordrops, its voltage falls and becomes less than the predetermined valueof 6 volts, but, owing to the retained magnetism of the magneticcircuits and to friction, the armature 12 remains stuck. The battery ofaccumulators it supplies then to the dynamo a current in the oppositedirection flowing in the winding e and producing a flux which annulsthat of e and overcomes the remanent magnetism; the armature 11therefore ceases to be attracted and breaks the contact bb', opening inthis manner the distribution circuit.

To ensure a good working of the self-closing circuit-breaker the windinge should have a certain numberof turns 12 determined by the maximumpermissible reversed current and by the construction of the regulator.In practice, it is not possible to give to this winding a suflicientvalue because when the regulator functions and the dynamo generates acurrent, the current consumed by the installation passes through thewinding e. The magneto-motive force so produced adds itself to that ofthe winding e and it is easily seen that the regulation of the voltageis performed at a value which is less than the predetermined one. Thisaction is not detrimental when the winding e is small, but it is, on thecontrary, when e is important. One is therefore obliged to use at e awinding with a small number of turns. In these conditions, a

reversed current 01 high intensity is needed to actuate thecircuit-breaker, and the contacts bb, having to cut a strong current,become rapidly worn.

The improvements object of the present invention consist essentially inmodifying the shape of the magnetic circuit so that the armature p is inparallel with the principal circuit of the voltage regulator.

The principal magnetic circuit of the regulator is constituted by thearmature 11 the fixed element 5 k and the leg I (Fig. 3).

The principal magnetic circuit of the circuitbreaker is constituted bythe armature 12 the fixed elements 7' k and the leg 1, which is commonto both magnetic circuits.

The windings e and e are placed on the fixed elements and 9'respectively.

The armature p is therefore situated in the principal magnetic circuitof the self-closing circuit-breaker and in a by-pass to the magneticcircuit of the regulator.

The advantage of this arrangement is the following: the flux F producedby the winding 6 divides itself into two unequal fluxes F and F the fluxF being weaker than F because the reluctance of the by-pass magneticcircuit Fp'k is made greater than that of the leg I.

In order to ensure a good working of the circuit-breaker, the winding emust annul the flux F at a value much smaller than in the knownarrangements. Now, this winding e produce a flux G which divides itselfinto two fluxes G and G the flux G being weaker than G because thereluctance of the magnetic circuit q p k s greater than that of the legI. 'Ihefiuxfili is the only one which interferes to modiiy theattraction of 12 that is to say, to modify the voltage at which theregulator operates.

In these conditions, it is seen that one can g ve to the winding e avalue which allows the selfclosing circuit-breaker to function undergood conditions, that is to say with a weak reversed current, so thatthe contacts bb' do not become deteriorated, without the voltage givenby the regulator being abnormally affected by the output, since:

1. The flux acting on the self-closing circuitbreaker is only a smallportion of the produced by the principal winding, the series winding cantherefore have a smaller value than usual.

2. The voltage regulator appears as a by-pass element with respect tothe magnetic circuit of the self-closing circuit-breaker and that,conseouently, the flux produced by the series winding reacts very littleon the regulation voltage.

As an example, on an apparatus constructed according to the presentinvention, one has measured the ratio G /G =4 for 2 amperes in thewinding e then F /F =3.5 for 5.5 volts in e. In these conditions, for asame action of the series winding e on the regulation voltage, thereversed current at the moment of the opening of the circuit-breaker is4X3.5;14 times weaker than with the known arrangements.

It will be understood that the arrangement which has been described andshown in the drawing is only an example of a preferred manner ofcarrying out the invention, and that it is susceptible of variations ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A magnetic relay, for use in a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuit breaker with sensitive reverse currentcharacteristics, adapted to be connected in a circuit having a generatorof varying potential and indeterminate power flow, comprising, incombination, a substantially H-shaped magnetic member having a first legforming part of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion, and a second end portion, a second leg formingpart of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion arranged oppositely to said intermediate portion ofsaid first leg, and a second end portion, and a middlev leg forming partof said H-shaped memher and connecting said intermediate portions witheach other; a single potential sensitive coil arranged on said first endportion of said first leg to generate magnetic fiux in a given directionand adapted to be connected in shunt to the generator; and a singlecurrent coil adapted to be connected in series in the circuit andarranged on said second end portion of said first leg to generate fiuxin said direction when current fiows through said single current coilfrom the generator to a load.

2. A magnetic relay, for use in a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuit breaker with sensitive reverse currentcharacteristics, adapted to be connected in a circuit having a generatorof varying potential andindeterminate power fiow, comprising, incombination, a substantially H-shaped magnetic member having a first legforming part of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion, and a second end portion, a second leg formingpart of said H -shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion arranged oppositely to said intermediate portion ofsaid first leg, and a second end portion, and a middle leg forming partof said H-shaped member and connecting said intermediate portions witheach other; a single potential sensitive coil arranged on said first endportion of said first leg to generate magnetic flux in a given directionand adapted to be connected in shunt to the generator; a single currentcoil adapted to be connected in series in the circuit and arranged onsaid second end portion of said first leg to generate flux in saiddirection when current fiows through said single current coil from thegen erator to a load; a first armature arranged for cooperation withsaid first end portion of said first leg; and a second armature arrangedfor cooperation with said second end portion of said first leg.

3. A magnetic relay, for use in a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuit breaker with sensitive reverse currentcharacteristics, adapted to be connected in a circuit having a generatorof varying potential and indeterminate power fiow, comprising, incombination, a sub.- stantially H-shaped magnetic member having a firstleg forming part of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion,an intermediate portion, and a second end portion, a second leg formingpart of said H-shaped member and having a first endportion, anintermediate portion arranged oppositely to said intermediate portion ofsaid first leg, and a second end portion, and a middle le forming partof said H-shaped member and connecting said intermediate portions witheach other; a single potential sensitive coil arranged on said first endportion of said first leg to generate magnetic fiuX in a given directionand adapted to be connected in shunt to the generator; a single currentcoil adapted to be connected in series in the circuit and arranged onsaid second end portion of said first leg to generate flux in saiddirection when current flows through said single current coil from thegenerator to a load; a first armature arranged for cooperation with saidfirst end portion of said first leg; and a second armature arranged forcooperation with said second end portion of said first leg, the magneticreluctance of said middle leg being appreciably smaller than themagnetic reluctance of said first end portion and said first armatureand the magnetic reluctance of said second end portions and said secondarmature, whereby a larger part of the flux generated by said potentialcoil will pass through said middle leg and a smaller part through saidsecond end portion of said first leg, said second armature, and saidsecond end portion of said second leg, and all the fiux of said currentcoil will pass through said second end portion of said first leg.

4. A magnetic relay for use in a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuit breaker with sensitive reverse currentcharacteristics, adapted to be connected in a circuit having a generatorof varying potential and indeterminate power flow, comprising, incombination, a substantially H-shaped magnetic member having a first legforming part of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion, and a second end portion, a second leg formingpart of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion arranged oppositely to said intermediate portion ofsaid first leg, and a second end portion, said first end portions beinglonger than said second end portions, and a middle leg forming part ofsaid H-shaped member and connecting said intermediate portions with eachother; a single potential sensitive coil arranged on said first endportion of said first leg to generate magnetic flux in a given directionand adapted to be connected in shunt to the generator; and a singlecurrent coil adapted to be connected in series in the circuit andarranged on said second end portion of said first leg to generate fluxin said direction when current flows through said single current coilfrom the generator to a load.

5. A magnetic relay for use in a combined voltage regulator andself-closing circuit breaker with sensitive reverse currentcharacteristics, adapted to be connected in a circuit having a generatorof varying potential and indeterminate power flow, comprising, incombination, a substantially H-shaped magnetic member having a first legforming part of said H-shaped member and having a first end portion, anintermediate portion, and a second end portion, a second leg iorm e rtQf a d ll p m r nd her:

ing a first nd portion, an intermediate portion arranged oppositely tosaid intermediate portion of said first leg, and a second end portion,and a middle leg forming part of said H-shaped member and connectingsaid intermediate portions with each other; a single potential sensitivecoil arranged on said first end portion of said first leg to generatemagnetic flux in a given direction and adapted to be connected in shuntto the generator; and a single current coil adapted to be connected inseries in the circuit and arranged on said second end portion of saidfirst leg to generate flux in said direction when current flows throughsaid single current coil from the generator to a load, said current coilhaving an appreciably smaller number of turns than said potential coil.

PIERRE CIBIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,363,806 Moses Dec. 28, 1920 1,383,494 rSoreng July 5, 19211,427,368 Fortescue Aug. 29, 1922 2,033,014 Thompson Mar. 3, 19362,307,025 Creveling Jan. 5, 1943 2,402,722 Bean June 25, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date $92,193 Great Britain May 8, 1933

